Boat structure



Oct. 6, 1953 a. FREES, JR., ETAL BOAT STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 1, 1948 fzzvenzor Bun/(z FEEES JR. mar/1w 0, FZOLU 1953 a. FREES, JR, ETAL BOAT STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 1, 1948 Patented Oct. 6, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Burke. Frees, Jr.,, and lngvald. 0;.EIOI0, Minneapolis, Minn.

Applicatiomseptemher 1, 1848, Serial-No; 4791-72 12 Claims. (CI. 9-6) This invention relates; to. a boat and while the invention. might be applicable tovarious; types ofboats, it particularly is directed to-a comparatively small boat, such as a rowboat, or one: to which an outboard. motor can be secured.

It is an object of thi invention to provide a. boat which is. strong, light in; weight andone that can be quickly made and sold at a very reasonable price.

It is a further object of the-invention to provide, a boat. having a plurality of longitudinally spaced transversely extending, rigid ribs of. general bow or U-shape, a. rear board or transom spaced; rearwardly of the rearmost rib; aninner keel strip received in slots disposed centrally at the bottoms ofsaid ribs respectively, said keel strip extending from said transom and being curved upwardly forwardly of the. foremost; rib tovthetop of said boat, a layer of. plywood secured to the outer sides of said transom and ribs, said plywood forwardly ofsaid foremost rib/having its sides converging, to and secured. to said. inner keel strip;

It isalso an object of the invention to provide a boat such as set forth in: the preceding, para--- graph, said boat having a substantially flat. bot tom at its rear end, said bottom becoming of curved formation toward. the front end. of said boat, said boat being considerably deeper at. the frontend than at the rear end.

It is still another object of. the invention tolproa vide a. boat comprising, a plurality oflongitudinally spaced transversely extending rigid ribs, 2; transom. disposed rearwardly of the rearmost rib, a layer of plywood secured to the outer sides of said transom and ribsv the sides of which. converge substantially to a point forwardly of the: foremost. rib, and a plurality of floor boards disposed inwardly of said layer of plywood.

It. is further an. object of the invention. to pro-- vide such, a boat as set forth. in: the preceding paragraph. inwhich said floor boardsare received in shallow slots formed. in the outer sides of. saidribs, some of said floor boards being of. greater lengths than. the others.

It is furthermore an. object. of. the invention. to provide av boat. comprising a. plurality of. longitudinally spaced extending rigid ribs the. same having slot disposed centrally in the bottom sides thereof, a transom disposedv rearwardly efthe- 2. rearmost ribaninner keel strip:- disposed in. said slots and. extending from said transom forwardly and being. curvedupwardly'forwardly of the foremost rib to the top ofv said boat, saidrib having other slots: at the. sides thereof. respectively and chine strips disposed in said slots and thus dispesed. at.- each side of. said boat, said chine strips extending. fromzadjaeentlthe bottom of. said tramsom forwardly and upwardly and meeting said i inner keel strip at a. point substantially midway of. the height of. theboat, and a. layer of plywood; secured to the outer sides: ofsaid transom and. ribs. said plywood. forwardly of the foremost rib converging to and being secured. to saidkeel strips It is; still another object of the invention to. provide a boatisuchas: generally set forth in the preceding paragraphn said. layer of plywood being in sectionsv which. sections, meet. at. the: sides of said boat substantially at the outer side of said chine strip, said sections. having a butt joint. at the: forward. end; of saidboat and having a lap joint at-the. rear portion. of. said-boat These and other. objects and advantages of the invention will; be, fully set forth: in. the following description. made in. connection with the accompzmying= drawings in. which like. reference. char.- acters refer to similar parts throughout the several viewsand in.which- Fig.v l. is a: view inside elevationof the boat;

fialisaaplanview of the-boat;

Fig. 3 is a. vertical section. taken substantially on line: 3-3 of 2;;

Fig.4 is a transverse vertical section: taken substantially on.line 4#4 ofFi'g; 3;

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section taken on line i -i ofEig. 3'-;

Fig; 6 is a transverse vertical section. taken on line ofFig, 3;

Fig. 7 isa fragmentary transverse vertical see-- ttion= taken on line T-T of Fig. 3

Fig; 8 is a fragmentary transverse. vertical sec;- tion taken online 88 0fFig..3;.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary transverse vertical; section taken on line 9-9 ofEig, .3

Fig. 10' is afragmentary transverse ve titontakenon line Ill-[00f Fig. a; meal Sec Figl 1.1-. is. a. horizontal sectior ulglofmgj; n taken on line.

l1 isa transverse. vertical: section taken on-:

3 line I2-I2 of Fig. 3, said sections being taken as indicated by the arrows; and

Fig. 13 is a partial plan view of one of the ribs used.

Referring to the drawings, a boat is shown comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced tranvsersely extending ribs I5, I6, II, I8 and I9. While these ribs vary in shape as will be later described, they are all of general bow or U-shape. Disposed rearwardly of and adjacent the rearmost rib I9 is a rear end board or transom 22. This transom is shown in elevation in Fig. 4. Rearmost rib I9 comprises end portions I9a of semi-segmental form thus having their outer sides slightly curved and a bottom portion I9b the bottom edge of which is very slightly convex. Portions I94; and I9b are connected by gussets I9c to which they are connected by screws or rivets 33. Ribs I to I9 have slots I511, I611, Ha. I Ba and I9a in their bottom sides centrally thereof and an inner keel strip is disposed in said slots and extends from transom 22 to the front end of said boat, said strip curving upwardly forwarwdly of foremost rib I5 to the top of the boat. Strip 20 is of substantially rectangular form from transom 22 to rib I5 but is of trapezoidal form in cross section beyond rib I5. Ribs I5 to I8 have other slots I51), I61), IIb and I8b at either side thereof respectively and chine strips 2I are disposed respectively in said latter slots the same extending substantially from transom 22 forwardly and upwardly to the front end of a boat where they meet the inner keel strip 20. It will be noted that said chine strips at the rear end of the boat are substantially in contact with the bottom of the boat but extend upwardly as they extend forwardly so that the front ends of said chine strips are disposed substantially at or a short distance above the midpoint of the height of the boat at the forward end. The ribs I5 to I9 have shallow slots I5c and IE0 therein at each side of the center thereof, said slots showing in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. Floor boards 23 are disposed in the slots I50 and IE0 in all of the ribs, said boards being seen in plan in Fig. 2. The four ribs I6, II, I8 and I9 have other similar slots I6d in the bottoms thereof spaced outwardly of slots I50 and I60. Other floor boards 24 similar to floor boards 23 are disposed in these slots IGd, the same appearing in plan in Fig. 2 where it will be seen that boards 24 extend only a short distance beyond rib I6. A layer of plywood is secured to the outer sides of ribs I5 to I9 and transom 22. Forwardly of rib I5 this plywood at either side of the boat converges at the center of the boat and is secured to the sides of inner keel strip 20, as shown in Fig 11. The shape of foremost rib I5 is shown in Fig. 6. It will be seen that this rib has its outer side in an are which is substantially semi-circular. Rib I6 is shown in Fig. 5 where it will be seen that this rib has a bottom portion I6e which is of slightly arcuate shape and has upwardly extending side portions Ifif which have rectilinear outer sides. The specific form of ribs I1 and I8 in front elevation is not shown but these are somewhat similar to rib I9, the bottom edges of the central portions thereof being formed on more of an arc. It will be noted that the height of the boat at the rear end is much less than the height of the boat at the forward end or at the location of rib I5. The boat also changes from a substantially flat bottomed boat at the rear portion to a substantially round bottomed boat at the forward portion. At the forward portion as stated, inner keel strip 20 is of trapezoidal shape in cross section having its short side at its forward end and the plywood 25 is secured to the rearwardly diverging sides of this strip. An outer keel strip 21 is provided which at its forward end is also of trapezoidal shape. As shown in Fig. 11 the rear side of this strip 21 abuts the front side of strip 20 and the front edges of the plywood layer 25. Said outer keel strip 21 rearwardly of rib I5 is substantially rectangular in transverse cross section and extends to the rear side of rear end board I9.

In practice the boat is made on a mold of solid material such as concrete. This mold is of the shape of the inner side of the boat inwardly of the plywood layer. The mold has transverse slots therein for receiving the ribs I5, I6, I'I, I8 and I9 and grooves for receiving the transom 22. It has grooves for receivin the strips 20 and 2I between the slots receiving the transverse ribs. The transverse ribs are placed on the mold in the proper slots, the strips 20 and 2| are placed in position, the floor boards 23 and 24 are placed in their respective slots and the layer of plywood 25 is then secured in place while the boat is still on the form. As shown in Figs. 7 and 11 the outer keel strip 21 is nailed to the inner strip 20. The plywood 25 is in four sections and the sections at each side meet substantially along the outer sides of the chine strips 2 I. At the forward portion of the boat, that is forwardly of a zone adjacent rib I6, the said layers meet in a butt joint, as shown in Fig. 10. As shown in this figure and in Figure 9 it will be seen that chine strip 2I is secured by nails passing through the plywood 25. In the rear of said zone the said sections of plywood meet in a lap joint, as shown in Fig. 12. A gunwale strip 29 is provided. the same being of general rectangular shape in vertical cross section with its corners slightly rounded. Strip 29 has a slot disposed centrally therein in its lower side and this receives the top edge of the plywood 25, which plywood is suitably secured in strip 29 by adhesive or nailing. The ribs I5 to I8 have slots I5d and I69 at either side thereof in their inner edges. Strips 30 are disposed in the slots I5d, I6g and We in all of the ribs, which strips serve as supports for transversely extending seat boards 3|. The forward portion of the boat is preferably provided with a deck 32,

Ribs I6, I'I, I8 and I9 which have bottom and side portions have the said bottom and side portions made of separate pieces. Said ribs are preferably made of layers of plywood and gusset pieces I6h are disposed across the various layers, the same preferably being secured by adhesive to the other layers and also secured by transversely extending nails or screws 33. It will be noted that the sides of the boat at the rear end are disposed in a slightly convex curve, as shown in Fig. 4. Preferably a wear or buffer strip 35 is secured by suitable nails along the outer side of the boat at the bottom portion thereof, which strip extends from transom 22 to rib I6. Boards 36 of substantially triangular form extend between and are secured to the gunwale 29 and transom 22 and act as braces.

From the above description it will be seen that W have provided a comparatively simple, strong and rugged boat which is quite light in weight and one which can be quickly and inexpensively produced. The plywood forms a very strong body for the boat and this body is protected by the outer keel strip 2! and by the gunwale and buffer strips 29 and 35. v strength tothe boatand also=iorm a convenient backing for the joint between the layers of" plywood 25. The boat being deeper at its forward end travels smoothly inthe water, especially when propelled by amotor. The boat will be preferably provided with a pleasing finish of paint or varnish The boats have been amply demonstrated in actual practice, found to bevery" successful: and efficient and: are. being commercially made.

It will of coursebe understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and pro ortions of the parts, with: out departing from the scope of applicants in vention, which generally stated; consists in adevice capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A plywood boat structure having in combination, an outer keel strip of narrow width extending from prow to stern of said boat, a plurality of transverse rib members of general bow form, a layer of plywood secured to the outer sides of said rib members respectively, an inner keel strip extending from prow to stem of said boat, said outer strip being secured to said inner strip said ribs having a central slot for receiving said inner keel strip and having transversely spaced shallow slots in their outer sides and a plurality of transversely spaced floor boards disposed in said latter slots and extending longitudinally of said boat at the inner side of said plywood.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1, there being four of said ribs spaced longitudinally of said boat, said boat having a substantially vertical transom, said floor boards comprising an outer pair of said floor boards extending from said transom to the foremost rib save one and an inner pair of said floor boards extending from said transom to the foremost rib,

3. A plywood boat structure having in combination, a plurality of longitudinally spaced transversely extending ribs, the rearmost one of said ribs having its central bottom portion slightly convex and having side portions extending upwardly therefrom and outwardly at a slight angle and said foremost rib having its lower side in a convex curve which is substantially semi-cylindrical and which extends to the top of said boat, a central keel strip received in slots in the lower sides of said ribs and a layer of plywood secured to the outer sides of said ribs, a rear transom extending upwardly and rearwardly at a slight angle to which the rear end of said plywood is secured, said plywood forward of said foremost rib converging to and being secured to said central keel strip.

4. A plywood boat structure having in combination, a plurality of longitudinally spaced transversely extending rigid rib members, a transom in the rear of said rearmost rib and having a substantially horizontal bottom edge, said rib members having slots in either side thereof respectively, chine strips disposed in said slots at each side and extending from said transom to the front end of said boat and a layer of plywood secured to the outer sides of said ribs and to the bottom and outer sides of said transom, said plywood at the sides of said boat forwardly of said foremost rib converging, a narrow inner keel member to which said converging sides are secured, said chine strips at said transom being The chine strips If add disposed at the: bottom of the boatbut extendi'ng upwardly as it" extendsforwardly and the forward end of the-same engaging said inner keel strip substantially midway between the top and bottoniof-said boat.

'5. plywood boat structure havin in combination, a plurality of transversely extending rigid rib members, a layer of plywood secured tothe outer si'desof said rib members, said rib members; having slots at either side thereof re-- spectively, a chine strip at eachside of saidboat extending longitudinally of said boat and received in said slots inwardly of said layer, said chine strip extending, from the bottom. of the boat. at the rear upwardly to the front end of said boat, said layerof plywoodbeing in: sections which meet-substantially at the outer side of said. chinestrip, said. sections being provided with aabutt joint at the forward end of said boat but being provided with a lap joint at the rear end portion of said boat.

6. The structure set forth in claim 5, there being five of said transverse ribs and said butt joint extending to the foremost rib save one.

7. A plywood boat structure having in combination, a plurality of transversely extending rigid rib members having central lower portions with slots on the bottoms thereof disposed centrally transversely thereof, a central inner keel member received in and fitting in said slots, a transom adjacent the rearmost rib member, said keel member extending from said transom to the front end of said boat, a layer of plywood secured to the outer sides of said ribs and transom respectively, said layer forwardly of the foremost ribs converging to and being secured to said inner keel strip and a lower keel member below said plywood and inner keel member secured to said inner keel member and extending to the front of said inner keel member.

8. A plywood boat structure having in combination, a plurality of longitudinally spaced transversely extending rigid ribs each having a central slot in the bottom side thereof, an inner keel strip disposed in said slots and extending from the rear end of said boat and curving upwardly from said foremost rib to the top of said boat, a transom adjacent the rearmost rib, a layer of plywood secured to the outer sides of said ribs and transom, said plywood forwardly of the foremost rib converging to and being secured to said keel strip, said keel strip being of trapezoidal shape in horizontal cross section with its short side directed forwardly and an outer keel strip secured to said inner keel strip, the inner side of said outer keel strip abutting the ends of said plywood which is secured to the rearwardly diverging sides of said inner keel strip.

9. The structure set forth in claim 1, said plywood being in longitudinally extending sections having adjacent edges disposed between said keel strips.

10. A plywood boat structure having in combination, a plurality of transversely extending rigid-rib members, a layer of plywood secured to the outer sides of said rib members, said rib mem bers having slots at either side thereof respectively, and a chine strip at each side of said boat extending longitudinally of said boat and received in said slots inwardly of said layer, said chine strip xtending from the bottom of the boat at the rear upwardly to the front end of said boat and to a point a material distance above said bottom, the sides of said boat converging to a point at their top edges and to a central prow line ad- 7 jacent said top edges, said prow line curving upwardly and forwardly to said point, said layer of plywood being in sections which meet substantially at the outer side of said chine strip.

11. The structure set forth in claim 7, said sections of plywood meeting in a line substantially centrally of said keel members.

12. The structure set forth in claim 8, said plywood having sections disposed partly between said keel strips, the edges of which sections meet in a line substantially centrally of said keel strips.

BURKE ZE'REES, JR. IN GVALD O. FLOLO.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date 1,323,125 Thompson Nov. 25, 1919 2,150,958 Alexander Mar. 21, 1939 2,220,875 Barket et a1 Nov. 12, 1940 2,392,834 Clement Jan. 15, 1946 2,493,816 Hardman et a1 Jan. 10, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 455,088 Great Britain Oct. 13, 1936 OTHER REFERENCES Boat Book, 2nd edition, copyright 1935 by Popular Mechanics 00., pages 271, 272, 277 and 278. Published by Popular Mechanics Press, Chicago, Illinois. 

